Concrete compositions and methods for producing same

Abstract

This present invention relates to compositions to improve concrete using biochemical-producing microbes and/or byproducts synthesized by the microbes. The invention also relates to methods for enhancing the performance of the concrete with said microbial strains and/or their byproducts.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An improved concrete composition, wherein the composition comprises a microbe culture comprising an inactive  Starmerella bombicola  or  Wickerhamomyces anomalus  yeast, a sophorolipid biosurfactant and a concrete mixture. 
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the concrete mixture comprises water, aggregate, and cement;
 wherein the aggregate is selected from one or a combination of the following: sand, gravel, stone, rock, blast furnace slag, glass, and recycled concrete. 
 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sophorolipid is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.001% to about 5%. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the microbe culture is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.1 g/l to about 100 g/l. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biosurfactant is a lactonic sophorolipid. 
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the concrete further comprises at least one ingredient selected from:
 a) accelerators; 
 b) bonding agents; 
 c) corrosion inhibitors; 
 d) air entraining agents; 
 e) crystalline admixtures; 
 f) pigments; 
 g) plasticizers; 
 h) superplasticizers; 
 i) pumping aids; 
 j) retarders; 
 k) water-reducing admixtures; 
 l) shrinkage reducers; 
 m) hydration-control admixtures; 
 n) alkali-silica reactivity inhibitors; 
 o) damp-proofing admixtures; 
 p) permeability reducing admixtures; 
 q) gas-forming admixtures; 
 r) anti-washout admixtures; 
 s) foaming admixtures; and 
 t) workability admixtures. 
 
     
     
       7. A method for improving one or more properties of concrete, wherein the method comprises adding to the concrete a microbe culture comprising an inactive  Starmerella bombicola  or  Wickerhamomyces anomalus  yeast and a sophorolipid biosurfactant. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the concrete comprises water, aggregate, and cement. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the concrete further comprises a concrete admixture selected from:
 a) accelerators; 
 b) bonding agents; 
 c) corrosion inhibitors; 
 d) air entraining agents; 
 e) crystalline admixtures; 
 f) pigments; 
 g) plasticizers; 
 h) superplasticizers; 
 i) pumping aids; 
 j) retarders; 
 k) water-reducing admixtures; 
 l) shrinkage reducers; 
 m) hydration-control admixtures; 
 n) alkali-silica reactivity inhibitors; 
 o) damp-proofing admixtures; 
 p) permeability reducing admixtures; 
 q) gas-forming admixtures; 
 r) anti-washout admixtures; 
 s) foaming admixtures; and 
 t) workability admixtures. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the aggregate is selected from one or a combination of the following: sand, gravel, stone, rock, blast furnace slag, glass, and recycled concrete. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the biosurfactant is a lactonic sophorolipid. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sophorolipid is present at a concentration of about 0.001% to about 50%. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the microbe culture is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.1 g/l to about 100 g/l. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the concrete is improved by one or a combination of the following:
 a) increasing the strength of the concrete; 
 b) decreasing the amount of water used in the concrete composition; 
 c) increasing the workability of the concrete; 
 d) decreasing the porosity of the concrete; 
 e) modifying the curing time of concrete; and 
 f) increasing the tolerance of the concrete to one of more environmental stresses, said one or more environmental stresses being selected from biotic stresses and abiotic stresses. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the concrete, growth byproduct, and/or microbe culture are mixed together before application of the concrete. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the concrete is curing when the microbe culture and/or growth byproducts are applied to the concrete. 
     
     
       17. A method for improving one or more properties of concrete, wherein the method comprises adding to the concrete a microbe culture comprising an inactive  Starmerella bombicola  or  Wickerhamomyces anomalus  yeast and a sophorolipid biosurfactant, wherein the concrete is curing when the microbe culture and/or biosurfactant is applied to the concrete.